Abstract: An intake feeder system having a stone separator mounted between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.

Abstract: A stone separator is described for mounting between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.

Abstract: A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester, comprises a frame supporting a grain pan and a sieve. The grain pan receives grain and chaff separated from the crop by a threshing mechanism and is reciprocable relative to the frame in order to separate the grain from the chaff and to propel the grain and chaff towards the sieve. The sieve is reciprocable relative to the frame and is connected to the frame by front and rear support arms and that are pivotably secured to the frame and to the sieve. In the invention, the front support arms have different geometries from the rear support arms such that when the sieve is reciprocated relative to the frame, the vertical component of oscillation is greater at the front end than at the rear end of the sieve.

Abstract: A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester, comprises a frame supporting a grain pan and a sieve. The grain pan receives grain and chaff separated from the crop by a threshing mechanism and is reciprocable relative to the frame in order to separate the grain from the chaff and to propel the grain and chaff towards the sieve. The sieve is reciprocable relative to the frame and is connected to the frame by front and rear support arms and that are pivotably secured to the frame and to the sieve. In the invention, the front support arms have different geometries from the rear support arms such that when the sieve is reciprocated relative to the frame, the vertical component of oscillation is greater at the front end than at the rear end of the sieve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the width of a sieve opening on combine harvesters so as to permit a quick installation of a new sieve or a quick re-installation of the previously used sieve, whereby enabling the previous width of the sieve opening to be immediately readjusted. The lamellas of the sieve are adjusted by means of an adjusting rail, which is actuated by a transversal shaft and by an adjusting mechanism both of which being mounted in a positionally fixed manner on the sieve housing of the cleaning device. The transversal shaft, to which an upwardly oriented driver is attached, is located underneath the sieve, the driver being connected to the adjusting rail by means of positive locking that can be disengaged by an upward movement of the sieve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the width of a sieve opening on combine harvesters. The aim of the invention is to be able to economically produce this device and to permit a quick installation of a new sieve or a quick re-installation of the previously used sieve, whereby enabling the previous width of the sieve opening to be immediately readjusted. The invention also aims to be able, while using the device, to adjust the width of the sieve opening on a preliminary sieve from an easily accessible location. To these ends, the lamellas of the sieve are adjusted by means of an adjusting rail, which is actuated by a transversal shaft and by an adjusting mechanism both of which being mounted in a positionally fixed manner on the sieve housing of the cleaning device. The transversal shaft, to which an upwardly oriented driver is attached, is located underneath the sieve.

Abstract: A tool that is provided for the removal and the installation of a threshing concave is disclosed. The tool has a pair of spaced support arms for slideably receiving end sections of a threshing concave. The support arms are provided with mechanism for attachment of the arm to the housing. The housing has an inner arm section that extends to one side of the attachment mechanism for supporting the concave inside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing. The outer arm section extends to the other side of the attachment mechanism for supporting a threshing concave outside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the width of a sieve opening on combine harvesters. The aim of the invention is to be able to economically produce this device and to permit a quick installation of a new sieve or a quick re-installation of the previously used sieve, whereby enabling the previous width of the sieve opening to be immediately readjusted. The invention also aims to be able, while using the device, to adjust the width of the sieve opening on a preliminary sieve from an easily accessible location. To these ends, the lamellas of the sieve are adjusted by means of an adjusting rail, which is actuated by a transversal shaft and by an adjusting mechanism both of which being mounted in a positionally fixed manner on the sieve housing of the cleaning device. The transversal shaft, to which an upwardly oriented driver is attached, is located underneath the sieve.

Abstract: A tool that is provided for the removal and the installation of a threshing concave is disclosed. The tool has a pair of spaced support arms for slideably receiving end sections of a threshing concave. The support arms are provided with mechanism for attachment of the arm to the housing. The housing has an inner arm section that extends to one side of the attachment mechanism for supporting the concave inside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing. The outer arm section extends to the other side of the attachment mechanism for supporting a threshing concave outside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine having a threshing and separating mechanism for threshing and separating crop material; and cleaning mechanisms for cleaning the threshed and separated crop material. The cleaning mechanism comprising: a grain pan for receiving threshed and separated crop material and transporting the latter rearwardly; and an upper and lower sieves installed behind the grain pan and operable to receive the material from the grain pan and move it through and along. At least one portion of the grain pan is inclined in a sideways direction for sideways movement of the threshed and separated crop material while it is being transported rearwardly towards the sieve. This inclination spreads out the surplus of crop material supplied to one longitudinal section of the grain pan and delivers it in an even pattern to the front section of the upper sieve.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine having a threshing and separating mechanism for threshing and separating crop material; and cleaning mechanism for cleaning the threshed and separated crop material. The cleaning mechanism comprising: a grain pan for receiving threshed and separated crop material and transporting the latter rearwardly; and an upper and lower sieves installed behind said grain pan and operable to receive the material from said grain pan and move it through and along. At least one portion of said grain pan is inclined in a sideways direction for sideways movement of said threshed and separated crop material while it is being transported rearwardly towards said sieve. This inclination spreads out the surplus of crop material supplied to one longitudinal section of the grain pan and delivers it in an even pattern to the front section of the upper sieve.

Abstract: A torque sensing variable diameter power transfer assembly is disclosed wherein the cam members are provided with an asymmetrical cam surface pattern having first and second cam surfaces meeting the base of the cam at different angles. The opposing first cam surfaces meet the corresponding base members at approximately 45.degree. and interengage to effectively transmit torque between the opposing cam members during normal operating conditions. The opposing second cam surfaces meet the corresponding case member at approximately 30.degree. and interengage to effectively transmit torque between the respective cam members during reverse power conditions, wherein the normally driven sheave temporarily becomes the drive sheave. The asymmetrical cam surfaces generally eliminate belt slippage during reverse power conditions and permit the engine to brake the power delivered by the normally driven sheave.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for a power transfer mechanism utilizing an endless flexible member having a normally slack run and a normally taut run is disclosed wherein the tensioning apparatus is operable to take up the slack in the endless member under both normal operating conditions and reverse power conditions during which the normally slack run becomes taut and vice-versa. The tensioning apparatus varies the amount of tensioning force applied to each run of the endless member in response to the amount of tension within the respective run. A constant biasing force is applied to a pair of tensioning idlers through an elongated rod which positionally changes relative to the tensioning idler pivots to vary the amount of tensioning force applied by the tensioning idlers.